Night-latch.



W. C. FERRIS.

NIGHT LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-12. I916.

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Patented Aug.

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NIGHT LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1916 w 6 n m !T a 3 m u d w m z m h 4 5 J v52151 27! 9/ n 0 79 w fi 5 0 I 4 1 m u 1 w WARREN C. FIE-KRIS, OF GOLDSPRING, NEW YORK.

NIGHT-LATCH.

Application filed January 12, 1916.

To all whom it may come m:

Be it known that I, WARREN C. FERRIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cold Spring, in the county of Putnam and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Night-Latches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

.This invention relates to locks and latches, and it has particularreference to a night latch of simple and improved construction.

A particular object of the invention is to produce an improved nightlatch which may not be opened by the introduction between the bolt andthe keeper of a flat implement, such as a knife blade, whereby the boltmay be pushed back, as is sometimes done with night latches of ordinaryconstruction.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved night latchwherein the bolt is combined with a dog whereby the'bolt will bepositively secured in projected position, means being provided wherebysaid dog may be released from the inside by a handle member associatedwith the device and from the outside by a key provided for the purpose.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved night latchwith parts of the casing broken away and showing the bolt projected.Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the face plate removed and showing thebolt projected. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the boltretracted. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44in Fig. 3, and showing the bolt retracted. Fig, 5 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 2 through the dog engagingcross bar. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 inFig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view showing the bolt and the dogSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Serial No. 71,762.

pivotally connected therewith. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view ofthe dog actuating lever. Fig. '9 is a plan view of the arms 44 connectedwith the barrel 43. Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly insection, showing a portion of the barrel 43 and related parts.

' Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The lock case A is provided in the cus-' tomary manner with a removableface plate which is deta-chably secured by means of a, screw 16 engaginga threaded recess in a post 17. One end wall of the lock case has a slotor opening 18 for the passage of the bolt B; the bottom of the lock caseis provided near the end remote from the slotted end wall with atransverse ridge 19 which is intersected by a longitudinal recess 20.

The bolt B is provided with the customary beveled head 21, and it has abifurcated shank, the limbs of which, 22, are provided with terminalears or lugs 23, said lugs being connected by pins or pivot members 24with similar ears or lugs 25 formed on a dog 26 which is adapted to abuton the ridge19 and which when in this abutting position will resist theretraction of the bolt from its projected position. Rising from thebottom of the lock case adjacent to the ridge 19 are posts 27, saidposts being preferably formed of screws that are in threaded engagementwith the bottom of the lock case and are provided with heads 28. A.cross bar 29 is provided with eyes 30 slidably engaging the posts 27,the cross bar being engaged by springs 31 that are coiled about theposts intermediate the heads thereof and the eyes 30, the cross bar 29being thereby pressed against the dog 26 which may thereby be retainedin engage ment with the ridge 19.

To actuate the dog 26 so as to release it from engagement with the ridge19 and permit the retraction of the bolt there is provided a memberwhich may be called a lever G, the same being shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings, said lever member including in its construction a cross bar 32having eyes or apertures 33 whereby it engages the posts 27 between thedog 26 and the bottom of the lock case, springs 34 being coiled on theposts 27 between the eyes 30 of the cross bar 29 and the cross bar 32,whereby the last mentioned cross bar is normally forced in the directionof the bottom of the lock case.

bottom of .the lock case.

The cross bar 32 is provided with V-shaped arms 35 that extend in thedirection of the end wall of the lock case which is apertured for thepassage of the bolt, said arms terminating clear of the bottom of thelock case, it being important that there shall be sufficient clearanceto enable the cross bar 32 to be tilted by pressing the free ends of theV-shaped arms in the direction of the The cross bar 32 is also providedwith a tongue 36 that extends beneath the dog 26 in the direction of theslotted end wall of the lock case. The cross bar 32 is finally providedwith an arm 37 that extends oppositely to the tongue 36, said arm beingpositioned in the longitudinal recess 20 of the ridge 19 in the path ofa spring actuated push button 38 which extends through the bottom Wallof the lock case. 7

Pivoted in the bottom of the lock case is a turn button 39 having at itsouter end a ,handle 40 and carrying at its inner end-a pair ofoppositely extending wings-or arms having beveled ends that abut on thelugs or ears 23 on the limbs 22 constituting the shank of the bolt B.The inner end of the turn button 39 also has a step 42 forming a bearingfor one end of a post or barrel 43, the other end of which has a bearingin the face plate of the lock case. The post or barrel 43 is providedwith Wings 44 lying adjacent to the Wings 41 and also abutting on thelugs 23. The wings 44 are formed by a cross bar which is pivotallyconnected with the barrel 43 in sucha manner as to permit the barreltomake a one-quarter turn without affecting the position of the Wings. Aturn in excess of a one-quarter revolution will, however, cause thewings to be rotated With thebarrel about the axis of the latter. Thebarrel is provided with radially extending arms 45 which, when the partsare in normal position, will be located at an angle of approximately 90degrees to the wings 44, said arms 45 being diametrically opposed toeach other. The arms 45 are positioned between the face plate of thelock case and the V-shaped arms 35 of the dog actuating lever C so thatwhen said barrel is rotated about its axis, one or the other of the arms45 will ride on the inclined face of one of the arms 35, thereby tiltingthe lever member C and causing the dog 26 to be disengaged from theridge 19.

The bolt B has a longitudinal bore 46 for the reception of a guide rod47, which latter has an eye 48 engaging the barrel 43. Coiled on theguide rod 47 is a spring 49, whereby the beveled head of the bolt isnormally projected beyond the end wall of the lock case.

Secured on the face plate of the lock case is a fiat spring 50 thatpresses against the bolt B for the purpose of maintaining the latter inproper position and also to assist in preventing the introduction of atool whereby the bolt might be surreptitiously actuated.

For actuating the improved latch from the outside a key is requiredwhich has been conventionally indicated at 51, said key being engagedwith the barrel 43, but the manner of its engagement or connection withthe barrel constituting no part of the present invention. By means ofthe key the barrel may be turned about its axis with the result that oneof the arms 45 will serve to tilt the lever member C about the fulcrumformed by the terminal of the arm 37, the latter being of suflicientlength to produce a degree of movement of the cross bar 32, whereby thedog 26 will be lifted out of engagement with the ridge 19. This resulthaving been accomplished the continued turning of the barrel by means ofthe key will impart movement to the wings 44, one of which will pressagainst one of the lugs of the bolt, which latter will now be retractedagainst the tension of the spring 49, the dog 26 sliding unobstruetedlyover the ridge 19. A stop member 52 is provided which slides in a slot53 in the lock case, said stop member being capable of being moved intothe path of a flange 54 on the bolt B for the purpose of retaining thebolt in retracted position; said stop member, however, may be actuatedonly from the inside of the door, it being provided exteriorly of thelock case with a handle 55. If the turning movement of the key isdiscontinued and the key is released without moving the stop member 52into the path of the bolt, the latter will be automatically projected bythe spring 49, thereby restoring the dog in engagement with the ridge 19where it will be held by the action of the spring actuated cross bar 29;the barrel 43 will likewise be restored to its initial position by thepressure of the lug 23 against one of the wings 44 which is followed bythe pressing action of one of the inclined faces of one of the V-shapedarms 35 against one of the arms 45.

To actuate the latch from the inside of the door to which it is appliedno key is required, it being only necessary to depress the push button38 which by engaging the tongue 37 lying in the path thereof will tiltthe lever member C about the fulcrum formed by the terminal of the arm36 thus lifting the dog 26 out of engagement with the ridge 19 andpermitting the retraction of the bolt which in this instance isperformed by means of the turn button 39 which may be turned in eitherdirection to cause one of the wings 41 to engage one of the lugs 23formed on the limbs of the bolt member B. By releasing the turn button39, as well as the push button 38, the bolt will be again shot orprojected by the action of the spring 49 unless the stop member 52 hasbeen previously moved in the path of the flange 54 whereby the bolt willbe retained in retracted position. When the door, a portion of which isindicated at D, is swung shut the release of the stop member fromengagement with the flange 44 will cause the bolt to be immediatelyprojected by the action of the spring 49 into engagement with thekeeper, shown at 56.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the dog 26 constitutes a safetydevice which positively prevents the retraction of the bolt until thesaid dog is moved out of engaging position with respect to the ridgeHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt having abifurcated shank provided with terminal lugs, a dog having lugspivotally connected with the lugs of the bolt, and an obstructing memberlying in the path of the dog.

2. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt, a springactuated dog pivotally connected therewith, an obstructing member in thepath of the dog, and means for tilting the dog out of engagement withthe obstructing member, said means comprising a lever member including across bar having an arm about the terminal of which it may be tilted.

3. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt, a springactuated dog pivotally connected therewith, an obstructing member in thepath of the dog, and means for tilting the dog out of engagement withthe obstructing member, said means comprising a lever member including across bar having an arm about the terminal of which it may be tilted,said cross bar being also provided with a tongue extending oppositely tothe arm; and a push button engaging the tongue.

4. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt, a springactuated dog pivotally connected therewith, an obstructing memberlocated in the path of the dog to maintain the bolt in projectedposition, and means for disengaging the spring actuated dog from theobstructing member, said means including a lever member having a crossbar, a fulcrum member extending in one direction from said cross bar, atongue extending in the opposite direction from said cross bar, andV-shaped arms extending from the ends of the cross bar in the directionof that end of the lock case through which the bolt is projected, therebeing ample clearance between the ends of the V- shaped arms and thebottom of the lock case to permit the lever member to be tilted bypressure exerted on the V-shaped arms.

5. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring lltll:

projected bolt, a dog pivotally connected therewith, headed postsadjacent to opposite sides of the dog, a cross bar having eyes engagingthe posts, and springs coiled 011 the posts to actuate the cross bar inthe direction of the dog.

6. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt, a dogpivotally connected therewith, headed posts adjacent to opposite sidesof the dog, a cross bar having eyes engaging the posts, and springscoiled on the posts to actuate the cross bar in the direction of thedog, said posts having threaded engagement with the lock case.

7. In a latch device, a lock case, a spring projected bolt, a dogpivotally connected therewith, posts connected with the lock caseadjacent to opposite sides of the dog, a spring actuated cross barslidable on the posts and engaging the dog, an obstructing member lyingin the path of the dog, a tiltable lever member positioned between thedog and the lock case to lift the dog against the action of the springactuated cross bar out of engagement with the obstructing member, andmeans for tilting the lever member and for projecting the springactuated bolt upon the completion of the tilting movement of the levermember.

8. In a latch device, a spring actuated bolt having a bifurcated shank,the limbs of which are provided with terminal lugs, a spring actuateddog having ears pivotally connected with the ears of the shank, anobstructing member lying in the path of the dog to maintain the bolt ina projected position, a dog actuating lever member tiltably arrangedbetween the dog and the bottom member of the lock case, a barrelsupported for actual rotation in the lock case between the limbs of thebolt shank, means for tilting the dog actuating lever member, and meansassociated with the barrel for engaging the lugs on the limbs of thebolt shank to retract the bolt.

9. In a latch device, a spring actuated bolt,

having a bifurcated shank, the limbs of which are provided with terminallugs, a spring actuated dog having ears pivotally connected with theears of the shank, an obstructing member lying in the path of the dog tomaintain the bolt in a projected position, a dog actuating lever membertiltably arranged between the dog and the bottom member of the lockcase, a barrel supported for actual rotation in the lock case betweenthe limbs of the bolt shank, means carried by the barrel for tilting thedog actuating lever member to lift the dog from engagement with theobstructing member, and means also associated with the barrel forengaging the lugs on the limbs of the bolt shank to retract the bolt bycontinued rotation of the barrel.

10. In a latch device, a lock case, a bolt adapted to be projectedthrough one end of the lock case, said bolt having a bifurcated shank,the limbs of which are provided with terminal lugs, a spring actuateddog having lugs pivotally eonneeted with the lugs of the bolt shank, anobstructing member lying in the path of the dog to maintain the bolt inprojected position, a-tiltable lever member whereby the spring actuateddog may be disengaged from the obstructing member, a barrel supported inthe lock case for rotation about its axis, said barrel being posi tionedbetween the'li'mbs of the bifurcated bolt shank, a rod on which the boltis guided, said rod having an eye engaging the barrel and the bolt beingprovided with a bore for the reception of the rod, a bolt projectingspring coiled on the red,- means for tilting the dog actuating levermember, and means associated with the barrel for retracting the bolt. 7

- 11. In a latch device, a lock case, a s ring projeted bolt member, adog pivotally connected; therewith, posts connected with the look caseat opposite sides of the dog, an obmeaeve structing member lyingin thepath of the dog, a spring actuated cross bar guided on the posts andengaging the dog to move the latter into engagement with the obstruetingmember, a tiltable dog actuating lever member including a cross barhaving eyes engaging the posts, springs on the posts between thetiltable lever member and the dog actuating cross bar to support thelever member normally in a non-tilted position, means for tilting thelever member to disengage the dog from the obstructing member, and meansfor retracting the bolt.

12. In a latch device, a lock case, a bolt having a longitudinal bore, akey barrel, a guide rod engaging the bore of the bolt and having an eyeengaging the key barrel, and a bolt pr0 ecting sprlng coiled about theguide rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

a, WARREN C. FERRIS.

Witnesses:

J. M. WINsLow, W. L. Pos'r.

copies of this patent may be obtained for" five eeirts each, byaddressin the cainmissioner or ream, Washington, D. c."

